Politics

Our Orientation program, to introduce us to a more serious side of Vienna, included a tour of parliament in addition to a political lecture from a well-spoken expert and a visit to OPEC. The presentation was very impressive, as the professor was cognisant of the international audience and able to make parallels between cultures, or contrast them, in terms of their world views. I feel like I can understand local Austrian behaviour and cultures in a better context, which makes living in Vienna that little bit more natural and comfortable.

Anyways, hurrah pictures!

Can you tell which house of the parliament had to be rebuilt after bombing in WWII?

OPEC pics, stolen from Joanne (I forgot my camera). They actually served us drinks and snacks before presenting their mandate to us in the very comfortable press room.  Also, I found out why there was a friendly police officer on my way to the doctor: he was standing at the entrance to OPEC! I’d walked past it twice before without realizing the significance of the building. This is Vienna, every building has something nifty or interesting to it. Hearing a Middle Eastern spin on oil and gas propaganda, instead of the normal Albertan, definitely entertained me. Business students were relatively friendly, but there were hippies in the audience on the attack the PR lady had to handle questions from. I think she faked that her English was worse than it really was to get out of parts...

We wanted to be Saudi Arabia, whee! Women may not be able to drive there yet, but they can vote, so why not?